If using the water and soap, be certain that the cases are 1,000% dry inside first before tumbling. Walnut media can form a plug harder than concrete. I use a small squeeze of Nu-Shine car polish and it works out well. Use less, rather than more. Never tried the sonic.

It's interesting how much of brass cleaning is a matter of preference. Seems some people over-complicate it. I down to try as many methodologies as necessary to achieve satisfaction, starting with easy options.

Doubt I'll get to the sonic cleaner tonight. But I'm looking forward to comparing its results with the vibratory.

Used ultrasonic but I'm not patient enough to wait for them to dry same with SS media. I throw'em in corn cob with some polish and finish them off on a brass prep station. The SS even get the primer pockets shiny but I found it cleans to good or might shorten the life of the brass because its to aggressive, not saying its true but just what I think, been wrong before.

I normally just vibrate mine in walnut media with a dab of brass polish in the mix. If the brass is dirty I wash mine in vinegar, salt and water. Then I rinse again with plain water with some times with a bit of baking soda. I had heard that the vinegar and salt bath may be a little corrosive on the brass.

Used ultrasonic but I'm not patient enough to wait for them to dry same with SS media. I throw'em in corn cob with some polish and finish them off on a brass prep station. The SS even get the primer pockets shiny but I found it cleans to good or might shorten the life of the brass because its to aggressive, not saying its true but just what I think, been wrong before.

That's where annealing comes in. I anneal after two firings. Then the only thing that will wear out will be the primer pockets. I don't think there's any prevention for that, though. Unless someone wants to back way down on powder charge. I'm not gonna do that silly business.